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ANN ARBOR BICYCLE TOURING SOCIETY Newsletter May–June 2013BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2013-2014Jim Lee (Chair) (734) 604-0696 leej 48103@yahoo.comTerri Keppler(734) 645-5696 tlk1972@gmail.comJeff McNallyDave Patria(734) 417-3057 jmcnally@comcast.net(734) 665-3961 underbpatd@aol.comAABTS BOARD MAKES POSSIBLEA 5,000-PLUS DONATION TOTHE CHANEY BICYCLING SAFETYAND ADVOCACY FUNDThomas J. PowellLynn Babcock (734) 994-6340 pinckney2@msn.comOFFICERSPresident: Doug Tidd (734) 678-8297aabtspres@yahoo.comVice President OHR: Bob Martel (734) 646-1507ohrinfo@aabts.orgVice President BASE Jim Lee (734) 604-0696leej 48103@yahoo.comSecretary: Jeff Witzburg (734) 459-4013T he Chaney Fund, an AABTS endowmentfund with the Ann Arbor Area CommunityFoundation, has funded a number of ‘‘Bicycling for Everyone’’ projects including theTour de Kids, hundreds of helmet giveaways(and fittings), and the Common Cycle Community Bicycle Program.jwitzburg@aol.comTreasurer: Kathleen Donahoe (734) 996-4985kdonahoe@umich.eduCOMMITTEESMembership: Beth Caldwell (734) 663-5060bethiacaldwell@gmail.comand Ann Hunt (734) 761-1147aehunt@comcast.netMileage: Vickie Smith (734) 996-9461vickie.smith@comcast.netRide Calendar: Amy McKinley (734) 276-0240amckinley0102@gmail.comand Joe Pavlovich (734) 545-0541jpavlovi@yahoo.comMaps: Jeff Eisemann (734) 747-1862bikingjeff@gmail.comNewsletter Editor: OPEN(with thanks to Lynda Collins for 8 years of service!)Special Events: Dan Harrison (734) 476-4944a2dan@sbcglobal.netClub Merchandise: Frank Lamitolafrankolam@comcast.netPublicity: Sal Aridi publicity@aabts.orgSUPPORT STAFFEmail Manager: email-admin@aabts.orgEquipment: Tom Glowacki (734) 426-4616tom.bikepilot@gmail.comWeb Gal: Deb Halbleib webguy@aabts.orgAnn Arbor Bicycle Touring SocietyP.O. Box 1585Ann Arbor 48106www.aabts.orgTo further strengthen the Chaney Fund,the AAABTS Board has directed that clubfunds be used to match member contributionsto the Fund up to 2500 until July 31, 2013.Member donations in the amount of 2,500plus a 2,500 matching from the Club willmake a ‘‘for good, for ever’’ total donation of 5,000. Projects can be funded in Plymouthas well as Washtenaw County since these areasare covered by the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation.A number of club members have alreadypledged donations. Be sure to check whetheryour employer will match your donations.Remember too that donations can be madein honor of a supporter of the Club or inmemory of someone who has passed. In addition, good friends of the Chaney family havepledged to match 50 cents on every dollarmatched by the Club. With your help we’llget to 5,000-plus.To donate make a check out to the AnnArbor Area Community Foundation, markingthe Lucian Chaney Bicycling Safety and Advocacy Fund in the memo line. The AAACFhas been a careful steward growing our donations through prudent investments. Let’suse the endowment fund to ensure a brightfuture for bicycling.
2Newsletter of the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring SocietyDonate now before the July 31, 2013 deadline: http://www.aaacf.org/ esignated-funds dvocacy-fundAnn Arbor Area Community Foundation301 North Main Street, Suite 300Ann Arbor MI 48104Phone 734-663-0401Below is an excerpt from the September25, 2003 letter establishing the Lucian W.Chaney Bicycling Safety and Advocacy Fund.Lu ChaneyLu Chaney is the inspiration for this fund.He made many contributions to bicyclingand bicycling safety in and around Ann Arbor. He was a champion rider in senior’sracing divisions, for many years he organizedweekly AABTS time trials, and, during a period when we offered them, he completed anumber of double centuries. He regularly attended Washtenaw County Road Commission meetings, thus ensuring that bicyclingroutes like Huron River Drive were appropriately paved (think asphalt rather than chipand seal). He instigated bicyclist-friendly signage on this same route. Most importantly,bicycling today is safer and more enjoyablebecause of the influential public meetings thathe arranged with public safety and transportation representatives over the years.Lu’s generosity was felt by many, and certainly was evident in the work he did formany years recruiting ride leaders, publishing the AABTS ride calendar, and in theleadership he and his wife Mary gave to theFun/Family OHR option by staffing the registration booth at Portage Lake during OHR.Lu and Mary developed new rides includingthe Clear Lake Circuit Ride and the WaterlooFarm Museum Ride that we still enjoy today.For years Lu led the Club’s Safety and Advocacy Program; within the Club an ongoingSafety and Advocacy Committee is continuing Lu’s strong example. The group is drafting the Club’s first Safety Newsletter, withplans to dedicate it to Lu. The publicationwill address the many important issues relatedto bicycling safety. AABTS has inauguratedthe Lucian W. Chaney Bicycling Safety andAdvocacy Fund with a donation of 5,000.Members of the Chaney family have alreadymade generous contributions to the fund, anda number of club members and friends havedeclared their intention to make significantdonations as well. Given sufficient resources,AABTS will continue to make contributionsannually.By donating to the Lucian W. Chaney Endowment Fund, you will make a gift thatkeeps on giving to a bicycling community thatembraces Brighton, Plymouth, Northville,and Canton as well as Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti,Dexter, Chelsea, and environs. We have anopportunity to build a strong, permanent tradition of community support for bicycling.Lu showed us the way; he made a difference;now let’s follow his lead.JOE DATSKO UPDATELynda CollinsJ oe Datsko moved to Maryland last May af-ter living in Ann Arbor, Michigan for 70 yearsbeginning in 1939 with his freshman year atU of M. He selected a retirement community in Maryland which would be near twoof his daughters and an airport so his entirefamily of five could visit and have reunionseasily. Charleston, the retirement community
3May–June 2013he chose, is about six times the size of GlacierHills with many great facilities.There is a 1.3 mile hilly road around thecampus that he found great as a trainingcourse: 10 laps in 80 minutes. There aremany bike and rails-to-trails nearby and only4 miles to a road along side a river in a StatePark. However, in August last year he developed shingles in his right foot and the virusinfected the nerve down his right leg, whichpartially immobilized the ankle and caused‘‘foot drop.’’ This restricted his bike-riding,but with six days a week of therapy, he expects that he will again be biking again thisspring.‘‘Although, I’m getting along fine here, Ido miss my friends in the Ann Arbor area andmy favorite spots in S.E. Michigan. To keepin touch, I read the Ann Arbor News, and occasionally look at the DVD of my 90th birthday party to which about l00 of my friendscame. It helps to keep my memory alive ofmy friends in the bike club. The numerous ofphotos of Doris spaced around my two roomskeep reminding me of all the good time wehad together for nearly 70 years.’’held at University Townhouse Cooperative at3200 Braeburn Circle in Ann Arbor.Joseph Datsko719 Maiden Choice Lane #BR105Catonsville, Maryland 21228Phone 410-737-1650AABTS Members: Please see the Volunteer Opportunities Below and contact Erica Briggs, erica@cec-mi.org or 734.585.5720x34, for more details on volunteering.AABTS BASE will combine efforts withCommon Cycle http://commoncycle.org/.Common Cycle is a community-based organization empowering Ann Arbor to ride bicyclesby providing access to education, workspace,and resources. Last year the event was a hugesuccess with over 100 children and parentsattending and about 75 bikes being repairedby Common Cycle volunteers.If you are not sure—relax. Fitting helmets to heads is made easy due to the ‘‘easyfit’’ style Bell helmets we purchase. The helmets are sorted by size/age group and clearlymarked in easy to access boxes. Also availableare tape measures for the occasional hard tofit head. Measure the head then find the helmet to fit. There also are seasoned volunteersto assist the less experienced.If you want to be a part of thisgreat event, contact Carole Hann: carolehann12@gmail.comVOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIESTeaching Benefits of Biking on Healthand EnvironmentBIKE RALLY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!Carole Hann[Ed. Note: The following call went outto club members via our Google Group, theresponse was good, and the event on May4th was a success . . . more in the SeptemberNewsletter.]I am looking for several volunteers tohelp with the 2013 AABTS helmet give-awayscheduled for Saturday May 4th , rain dateMay 11th . This event, sponsored by theAABTS Bicycle Advocacy Safety EducationCommittee (BASE), has the potential to distribute 150 free helmets. The event will beVolunteers are needed to help teach shortlesson plans on the importance of bikingand walking to 6th graders at Clague MiddleSchool starting in May. These lessons willbe taught during advisory class and focus onthe environmental and health benefits of biking and walking, as well as how to engage inthese activities safely. Advisory classes meetfrom 11:35–11:50am. Our ideal volunteerwill be able to commit to teaching two lessonsa week, on Tuesday and Thursday, throughout the month of May. Training will be provided. Volunteering less often or on differentdays may be an option, please contact Erica Briggs, erica@cec-mi.org or 734.585.5720x34, for more details on volunteering.
4Newsletter of the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring SocietyMore background on the project: ClagueMiddle School was one of six schools inMichigan to receive Safe Routes to School(SRTS) funding for the 2012–2013 schoolyear. This funding will be used to makeinfrastructure improvements around ClagueMiddle School, as well as fund education andencouragement work. Clague is working withthe Clean Energy Coalition to hold walk andbike to school days at Clague this spring,implement pedestrian and bicycle safety education through advisory classes, and organize a bike festival in conjunction with National Bike to School day in May. In partnership with the City of Ann Arbor, SRTSfunds will help fund the installation of sidewalks and crosswalks on Nixon Road, installflashing beacons on Green Road, and makecrosswalk improvements at the intersection ofGreen and Nixon roads in the summer/fall of2013. The total project award was 180,065.For more information, please visit www.cecmi.org/clagueBike and Walk to School Days Event AssistanceCEC is supporting Bike Walk to SchoolDays at Clague. We need volunteers toassist with welcoming students and recording participation on the following dates from7:20am–8:10am. Volunteers can assist onone or more of the days: Friday, April 12th and 26th Friday, May 10th , 17th , 24th , 31stThank You.Jim Lee,VP, Bicycling Advocacy, Safety and Education(BASE)BICYCLE SALE ATANN ARBOR HURON HIGH SCHOOLSaturday, May 11 will be the date of alarge used bicycle sale at Huron High School.The sale is being held to raise money for theHuron Band 2014 France Trip and to benefitthe community at large by providing access toa large quantity of used bikes all at one placeas well as a way for people to sell their bikes.The sale will run from 11:00am to 3:00pm inthe Huron High School cafeteria, 2727 FullerRd, Ann Arbor.Additional details are available at the AAHuron Band France Trip site:http://huronbandfrancetrip2014.org, and select upcoming events.In addition to donating, selling and buying bikes, the Ann Arbor Huron High Schoolwould like to invite AABTS members to volunteer during the event. Volunteers will beasked to provide advice about bikes and helpwith bike repair/tuning. If you have questions or would like to volunteer, contact ClarkMcCall at a2bikesale@gmail.com or 734-8452429. Thank you for the help!Read the full press release (PDF) for moreinformation:http://www.aabts.org/HuronSale PressRls.pdf.37TH ANNUALONE HELLUVA RIDEJULY 13, 2013General InformationThe Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society(AABTS) presents the 37th Annual One Helluva Ride (OHR) on Saturday, July 13,2013. Join us for a day of scenic bicycletouring over tree-lined, paved roads in Washtenaw, Ingham, Jackson and Livingston counties. The routes wind through rural and recreation areas on beautiful rolling terrain andvary enough to appeal to a broad range ofbicyclists.
5May–June 2013OHR riders can choose from six great looproutes. Four rides start and end at ChelseaFairgrounds in Chelsea, Michigan; the 100mile route will go through Hell. The twoFun Rides start and end at Portage Lake StatePark. All the routes share the same centrallunch stop at Portage Lake State Park, so family members and friends who decide to takedifferent routes can meet.Register Now! http://aabts.org/ohr/COOKIES NEEDEDFOR AABTS-HOSTED PALM 2013 STOPOnce again AABTS will be hosting aCookie Table on the PALM, Pedal AcrossLower Michigan ride, and we need your helpmaking cookies.PALM is a six-day ride geared to new ridersand young families, and also numerous folkswho ride it annually. This year the CookieTable will be in Manchester on Wednesday,June 26, day 4 of the week-long bike tour.There will be about 800 riders, and so we arelooking for 135 dozen because EVERYONEloves homemade cookies.Last year’s cookie coordinator, Jan Shubitowski, will be out of town so Christine Flaviani will be coordinating this year’stable.Please contact Christine at cflaviani@yahoo.com or 248-349-8862, with thenumber of cookies you can provide. All typesof cookies, including brownies, are welcome!John Finnegan has volunteered again thisyear to help with cookie collection and freezerspace for the Far East Fringe area. We arestill in need of freezer space and volunteersfor collecting cookies in the Ann Arbor area.Please contact Christine if you can help out.The Cookie Table is a great way to talk toother bicyclists about the benefits of joiningAABTS and the fun they could have ridingOne Helluva Ride.RIDE OF SILENCEWEDNESDAY, MAY 15Join the 10th anniversary worldwide Rideof Silence (www.rideofsilence.org) as cycliststhroughout the world ride in a silent, slowpaced ride (maximum 12 mph) in honor ofthose who have been injured or killed whilecycling on public roadways. AABTS will joinBike Ypsi at Recreation Park, Ypsilanti for theride. Gather at 6:30 pm, ride at 7:00.LETTERS TO THE EDITORMarch 30, 2013Creating a cycling event in Ann Arbor forBMT (bone marrow transplant) Infonet andU of M Comprehensive Cancer Center BoneMarrow Transplant ClinicHello!My name is Craig Bowman. I am a twotime cancer survivor, bone marrow transplantrecipient, and avid Ironman triathlete and cyclist.I am now a Caring Connection volunteer for BMTinfonet.org Blood & MarrowTransplant Information Network (based inChicago).Because of my passion for intense endurance exercise (something that positivelycontributed to my incredible recovery fromdeath’s door!), one of the directors for BMTinfonet, when I volunteered, asked me if Iwould think some on organizing a majorcycling event sponsored by their organization along with the University of MichiganComprehensive Cancer Center Bone MarrowClinic and local Michigan-based groups.This note is simply to put the word outthat we want to make this happen.We need to determine two things, initially:a good date for the event and what kind ofsupportive interest among Michigan cyclists,triathletes, and others there might be.We would like the event to take place, ideally, in Ann Arbor in close proximity to theU of M hospital.One of the dates that I initially picked isJune 9, a Sunday that also happens to be theNational Cancer Survivor Day, with a gathering of survivors treated by U of M CCC that
6Newsletter of the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Societyafternoon in Ann Arbor. I attended this inspiring celebration last year for the first time,but this year I will be in Israel directing anarchaeological dig. I still think that it may beone of the best dates for staging the event, butsomeone other than me would end up beingthe main coordinator for it.The connection for BMTinfonet.org is thatthis event would serve as a fund-raiser incentive for persons wanting to reduce travelcosts to attend the annual Celebrating a Second Chance at Life National Symposium forBone Marrow, Stem Cell, and Cord BloodSurvivors. This year’s symposium was heldin Costa Mesa, CA April 20-21.Believe me, as a BMT recipient, there isno one who shares the depth of meaning andlife-renewing aspects as well as the unique lifethreatening challenges as do fellow transplantpatients. We understand each other like noone else can. We also inspire each other inextraordinary ways, but we also still dependheavily on caregiver and community support.These kinds of gatherings are essential for survivors. But not all survivors can afford to getthere on their own. Together, we can makea real difference in helping them realize theirdreams.Many of you to whom I write, knew 17time Michigan Ironman legend Jon Loganand his wife Sandy. Many of you have already ridden in or will ride in events honoring Jon’s memory. Some of you knew ArtDeCook, the father of professional triathleteRyan DeCook. And, many of you know mystory rather well. Some of you may be involved in some phase of your own cancer ortransplant journey. With the cancer occurrence at one in three, chances are that you orsomeone very close to you will face the cancerchallenge; it is likely in your lifetime you willbe either patient or caregiver. The storylinesfor Jon, Art, and me are simultaneously similar and different. All three of us faced cancer,not alone, but encircled by family and friendswho carried us daily when we could not walkon our own, with loving hands, listening ears,and devoted hearts. Each of us depended onthe caring community around us. Those likeus need all of you.Please join me in the creation of this event.Thanks for your participation and consideration.Sincerely,Craig Bowman[Editor’s Note: This thank-you letter was delayed due to an error on the part of the editor.]September 21, 2012Dear Bicycle Friends,Before my back surgery I remember thinking, ‘‘I hope I don’t get a plant from AABTSbecause I’ll probably accidentally kill it,’’ butnow I’m glad I have the plant. It reminds meof you and all the cards and get well wishes.Thank you for thinking of me, and I hope tobe bicycling again soon.Gwen EvichTo: The Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring SocietyWe would like to thank everyone for thelovely basket of green plants that we receivedat our new residence. The plant is doingvery well—it is actually thriving—growingnew leaves and sprouting white lily-like flowers. It is a nice addition for our family room.Gary and I hope that all our bicycle friendsare doing well. We think of you often.Sincerely,Gary and Linda FrancisFriday, February 15, 2013Dear AABTS,What a pleasant surprise to have the lovelydish garden delivered to our door this week(especially the day before Valentines Day).We are enjoying the variety of plants that arein it and will no doubt have it for a longtime. My recovery has been great so far. Ihave been able to do some walking each day,both inside on the track and outside on thecountry roads. But I haven’t been able to get
May–June 2013into the pool yet. Perhaps next week, afterthe doctor gives the okay, I will be able toget back into the water.Thanks again for the nice plant garden. Itwas very thoughtful of you.Art KitzeTo all of the Members of AABTSThank you so much for the flowers theclub sent me after my recent ankle surgery.They are in the center of the table rightnow.I don’t really feel like I should rate a full‘‘get well wish’’ because everything went sosmoothly and I have had so little pain or discomfort.It already feels so much better than it didbefore that the big problem is rememberingto stay off of it so it can knit.Thank you again everyone.See you on the r
many years recruiting ride leaders, publish-ing the AABTS ride calendar, and in the leadership he and his wife Mary gave to the Fun/Family OHR option by staffing the reg-istration booth at Portage Lake during OHR. Lu and Mary developed new rides including the Clear Lake Circuit Ride and the Waterloo Far
